Improvement in bridge-gates



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Letters Patent No. 109,520, dated November 22ft1870 IMPR'QVEMENT IN BRIDGE-GATES.

The Schedule referred.V to in these Lettera Patent and making part of 'the same.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHEL KIRSCH, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Bridge-Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the .accompanying drawing.

My invention' consists in a novel manner of con structingand arranging on each abutment two pivoted turning gates, connected with mechanism on an overhead flame-work, which mechanism isopcrated by. pinsv on an upright frame on the bridge'.

Figure 1 is a top plan View of one end of a swinging bridge, with my gates arranged in connection therewith;

"Figure 2, a vertical section'ofthc same,`on the line" Figure 3, a plan View, in outline, of the' bridge and gates at one end. c

A is the bridge, which is constructed in the usual manner, and turns upon a pivot. y B is the abutment, againstvtlie-,facc of which the bridge closes.

Gis a strong upright 'trame-work to support the:

gates and their operating mechanism, of sufiicient I height to allow the teams and passengers to pass through under it in going on and ofi' the bridge.

D 1) are two upright shafts, bearing at their lower ends inthe abutment, and supported at their upper y ends in the frame-work C so that they are free to turn..

E E are thev two gates, attached one to each of the shafts D, s0 that, by turning the shafts, the two gates may be either brought in line so as to close the approach to the bridge, or paraiiei' with each other, as

'.showu in iig. 3,.so as to leave the passage unobstructed. p

f '.lhe shafts D are located on opposite sides oi' the froadway, midway between the middle and the outside v"offthe approach o1' passage, so that the shafts pass through the middle of the'gates, and thereby permit the gates to be closed either end outward.

'- F are circular disks attached to the upper ends of the gate-shafts D, andprovided with pins a equiin line wit-h the center of the bridge, and so that it projects in front of the frame C.

.H is an upright frame, erected on the end' of the bridge, with pins 'i ou its top, which, as the bridge is swung open and shut, enter. the' slots c of wheel G,

and thereby operate said wheel, and through the intermediate mechanism the gates 'Er I I are two locking arms, which are pivoted to the frame G, one behind each of vthe disks 11.

Each of these arms is provided with a notch, l, to engage over the pins a of the disks, to prevent the same from turning, and thus lock the gates at the proper times.

A spring, m, is also placed behind each ofthe arms I, to keep them thrown forward in contact with Vthe pins a. l

J isa horizontal sliding bar attached to frame G,

which is provided at its' front end with a roller, a,

projecting beyond the frame C, and at its back end with arms which bear against the ends of arms I, so that, by shoving back said bar, both locking arms are released. v

Thefront of thel frame E is so beveled oi at its ends that, when the bridge-.is closed, before the pins 'i are brought into play, the frame-strikes the roller, and, pushing back the bar J, releases the armsI and leavesthe gates free to turn.

As soon as the arms I are released, the pinst enter the slotted wheel G and open the gates. lWhen the bridge is again opened, the pins i, 'set-the mechanism in motion and close the gates; and as soon as the frame H clears the roller, the arms I spring forward and lock'the parts.

In this mannerI construct a cheap and simple automatic gate, which cannot fail to open and close at the proper times, and the operating mechanism of which is so located that it cannot be injured or dis- -arranged by passing teams or boats.

I am aware that pivoted gates have heretofore been used in connection with swinging bridges; also that a patent was granted to J Wermerskirchen for a means of operating such gates, the mechanism being located 'in a vault underneath the street or abutment, and

therefore Il do not claim such; but

'Having fully described my. invention, tVhat I claim is l. rlhe combination of the rotating gates E,.having' 'the disks F attached thereto, with the slotted wheel" Gr and the pins t, attached to the swinging bridge, said operating mechanism being arranged in a suitable frame overhead, substantially as described.

2. 'lhe locking bars I, in combination with the sliding bar J and the frame or bar H, arranged to operate inv connection with the disks F, substantially as de- Witnesses PET. KIRsoH, WM. H. Lo'rz. 

